Sunflower cultivation is fast gaining popularity among farmers at Khar Gewog in Pema Gatshel. Thanks to the gewog administration’s initiative, once limited to a few growers, the gewog now produces nearly 45 per cent of the country’s total sunflower harvest. With the installation of an oil extraction machine last year, farmers have started producing oil locally. However, with production on the rise, they are now requesting additional and larger machines to meet the growing demand.
Many farmers in Khar Gewog now grow sunflower on large scale after an oil extraction machine was installed at Khengzor-Labar Chiwog last year. Some have already started making use of the machine to extract oil. But according to the farmers, the machine is too small to cater to the entire gewog. They are requesting for a larger or additional extraction machines.
Tshering Chophel from Labar said, “If we are provided a bigger machine in our chiwog, we can collect sunflowers from nearby chiwogs and extract oil here. If that’s not possible, it would be better to provide one machine each to other chiwogs as well.”
Ugyen Namgay, Khengzor Tshogpa said, “After receiving the machine, more people have shown interest in growing sunflowers compared to the previous years. Everyone wants to earn income from it. With a larger machine, we would be able toextract enough oil not just for self-consumption but also for commercial sale.”
The gewog administration said it will support the farmers by providing two more machines. Villagers are now waiting for the machines to arrive.
Metsi Wangmo, Shinangri Tshogpa said, “At first, we cultivated on a trial basis with support from the gewog office. There is already a machine at Labar, but since we planted only a small amount, taking it there wouldn’t even cover the hiring charges. So, we are waiting, as we heard we will get our own machine soon.”
Ugyen Pema from Shinangri said, “We didn’t take our seeds to Labar to extract oil because we are hoping to get a machine here in our chiwog. Earlier, some people weren’t interested, but I believe everyone will be if we get our own machine.”
According to gewog officials, a budget has already been allocated to buy two additional machines. However, they couldn’t make an immediate purchase as they are awaiting technical guidance and recommendations from the National Post-Harvest Centre.The gewog office is also exploring ways to provide sunflower seeds to interested farmers if there is any budget left after procuring the machines.
According to the Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census of Bhutan 2025, Pema Gatshel was the top sunflower-growing district in the country, producing over 620 kilogrammes of sunflower seeds last year. Bhutan’s total sunflower seed production stood at around 1,400 kilogrammes.
With the number of growers in the district increasing from 17 last year to 60 this year, the harvest is expected to multiply.
This progress is a reflection of how small initiatives can stimulate growth in import-driven sectors, promote import substitution, and enhance rural livelihoods.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Kipchu
